Compare towns
Danbury vs Durham vs Hancock vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danbury | Durham | Hancock | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,791 |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| Hancock and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Durham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$390 14% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±36.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.